I've noticed that people have very different ideas of what left and right means (in a political context) and this is particularly pronounced across different countries.

For example, I'm British and I would class myself as 'centre left'. In my eyes, this means I'm a not a Corbynista and I'm not a Blairite. I'm in between. However, I'm sure when someone else says they are centre left, this could be something completely different, especially if you ask someone from a different country. It's all about what you define as 'the centre' and where you - either personally, as a society or both - perceive it to be.

I would imagine, for example, the American centre is further right than the British centre (although it could just be a stereotype). I've heard the word 'liberal' used interchangeably with 'left' in American culture, and I would argue they have completely different meanings in Britain - left being more akin to socialism, which is not 'liberal' in that sense.

It's a good point, the nuance of which people seem to miss round these parts.

I'm incredibly socialist in general. Probably on a par with Corbyn despite the fact I can't stand him as a person. I believe the essential services (health, rail, etc) should be nationalised and subsidised, and that workers should have stronger rights, albeit not quite back to the 70s.

Unfortunately, I also oppose high levels of immigration on the grounds that it overloads a system which currently struggles to cope with the current loading, and undermines workers rights by deflating wages. Which around here makes me rabidly right wing, apparently. Hey ho.

Well the left/right things is becoming less and less relevant and now usually should be accompanied by conservative/liberal and globalist/nationalist spectra.

For example the "right" in Canada federal landscape is conservative but mostly globalist. But it used to be progressive (it was literally called the "Progressive conservative", the kind of oxymoron that can only exist in Canada).

And yeah it heavily shift based on where you are, the democrats are America left but would be considered center or even right wing in most country.

So I guess I'd say I'm left wing, globalist, liberal. But even that hide a lot of nuance.

I would generally consider myself a democratic socialist.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

I'd like to say that I'm left of center, but I'm pretty sure that's merely "relative to the rest of the US" rather than relative to the rest of the globe.

Economically, I'm pretty well over to the left wing. I firmly believe in the idea of a "ground up" economic structure that favors the common folk over the elites. In particular, I especially believe in the idea that workers should be in control of their work-spaces rather than having everything dictated to them by a corporate board of directors. I also believe that the government should take a strong position of favoring the consumer over the supplier. "Demand-side" economics, instead of "trickle-down" "supply-side" economics.

Socially, I believe I'm fairly liberal. I firmly believe in decriminalizing certain drugs and making them available for private recreational use. I also believe in same-sex marriage; though I actually oppose the idea of "civil unions" on the grounds of "separate but equal", which anyone will tell you was anything but equal. My beliefs on abortion are complicated, but I do believe it should be generally legal with special allowances for conception via incest or rape to enable a "fast track" abortion process instead of the regular "slow track" that would entail seeking out adopters for the unborn before the abortion could take place; conception via rape or incest as well as complications that come with possible mortal threat to the mother or unborn could also be used as grounds for "fast track" abortion that would take precedence over whether the child could live a mostly normal life outside the womb. So yes, I'm also going to state that I oppose late-term abortion, at least in cases where the child could expect to live normally after being born.

On the issue of globalism, I believe a nation should always put priority on their own citizens first and foremost. A nation must maintain a secure border and strong immigrant screening to ensure that the people coming in are ones that will peacefully acclimatize and assimilate into the local culture, rather than put additional strain on the nation's resources. This does not mean that we should exclude refugees that are seeking asylum in times of crisis, but they must understand that they are guests in their host nation and are expected to obey their host nation's laws and respect its culture. If they don't, they will be expelled back to their original home country.

And one position that falls outside the spectra listed by Meiam is my position on censorship. I personally believe that any outside pressure on a creator with the intention of causing them to change their works is a despicable, deplorable action that must be opposed at every opportunity. Censorship has no place in our modern world. The very concept is one that should be taught as something to be fought against, to be rejected at every turn, to be destroyed utterly. I also believe that governments must protect the rights of their citizens to speak freely, especially when social media companies try to enforce ideologies upon their users.

I think it's more important the political opinion about specific topics rather than a broad wing. So:Economically I'm the usual right wing, I worked hard to get my degree and I'd be damned to pay even more taxes which will mostly go to people who choose to not work (Orthodox Jews).National Security wise I'm with the idea to just continue the current status quo and hope somthing might change in the future.In authoritatian vs. anarchy I'm straight in the middle, nothing more to say.Culturally, I'd rather the government stay far away as possible, that being said, if the government sponsors something from tax money they have full authority to dictate its content.Education, I think we need to increase the wages to starting teachers and weaken the teachers organizations.Globally, I don't care much unless its either something I'm afraid will spread to Israel or will improve/weaken Israel's status. I think globalism is a really bad idea in the long term, with the EU coalescing will just create a Soviet Union-USA hybrid with growing inner resentment that will eventually collapse messily. I'm kinda worried about EU demographics in the long term, Muslim countries tend to not be friendly. In general I think we are at a very short golden age and most countries will regress to give less women and LGBT rights in the coming decades.

As for who I vote for, I'll go purely economic route since there are no real differences besides that.

Fairly left leaning both socially and fiscally. Don't really feel that I'm an extremist, but I don't feel like moderate describes me either. Guns either need to be more regulated or treated like tools instead of toys, "Religious freedoms" need to fuck off as it's basically trying to legalize discrimination. Prison and police need to be unfucked, more accountability and less profits. Immigration also needs to be unfucked. I'm ok with higher taxes so long as they're going towards something productive. I can live with some of my check being used to help someone with cancer. NOT being used to drop more bombs on brown people. There needs to be more regulations in capitalism to prevent more rampant abuse of employees and the environment and OH YEAH, the environment. We need to stop fucking that in every hole we find, regardless of how many people buy into the fairy tale of global warming being a myth. Decriminalize weed, stop sending people to prison for drug possession if they didn't intend to distribute, fuck the practical cultist worship of everyone in this country whose job involves shooting at people, and fuck the culture behind mindlessly worshiping the flag that's supposed to encourage free speech yet is guaranteed to get shit thrown in your direction if you don't worship it.

I regard myself as firmly leftwing. I've grown a lot more leftist the past few years. Not really sure why precisely.

There was a thread like this in the wild west with a test attached which labeled me as a libertarian socialist but to be honest, I'm not sure what that is. I believe its a fairly specific position that I have never bothered to look into. In the context of the test it meant I have a fairly lassez fair attitude to sex, drugs, (though in my personal life I'm a prude teetotaler) gender, law and order, etc combined with leftist views on economics.

Economically I'm rather strongly leftist. I regard property as a risky though justifiable privilege that should be kept in check through high property taxes and inheritance taxes, strong anti-monopoly/cartel laws, etc. I am highly suspicious of share holding and even more so of share trading. It seems like a business to make the rich richer and more infuential over industry with not nearly proportional benefit to anyone else. I wouldn't mind a small tax on buying shares if only to discourage (flash) trading without any care for the companies involved. I'm also of the opinion that power over organisations should be the result of work rather than just buying it so I'm inclined against giving share holders much influence over the goings on in a company. I also don't really like the idea of intellectual property, certainly not a lot of its current excesses. Lastly, I won't begrudge anyone for earning a lot of money (who doesn't like the ability to aquire all the stuff and holidays you want), but as soon as people start claiming they need or deserve salaries of five or twenty or fifty times as much as a mean income, I gotta call bullshit.

Governmentally I am basically pro-bureaucracy and conservative and in favour of inconvenient things like (supreme) courts, senates, international law, European Union etc. Everything that means those in charge are more advised and scrutinised is good. If that slows down the process of lawmaking and policy: good. Also proportional representation and coalitions, yes please. No need to become another US with two parties: a mediocre one and a terrible one. I also don't mind a strong government hand in education, health care, etc and I have no problem with high taxes to fund that. So basically big government all the way.

I am also in favour of clean energy. I think wind and solar are the best, dams are also good, though building them tends to displace entire villages which is not good. Nuclear, well, there doesn't seem to be a good plan to get rid of the irradiated waste that we are stuck with for millenia so preferably not. Coal, oil, fracking and gas all should be phased out as soon as possible.

I consider myself a Centrist Libertarian with a slight leaning towards Progressivism. Although I usually vote with practicality in mind, things like discrimination and xenophobia are social issues I always keep in mind during elections.

Economically: Socialist. I believe that vital amenities (water, electricity, railways, gas, phone service, etc) should be nationalised, and revenue reinvested in the infrastructure. The tax system should increase the share paid in corporation tax, and by the wealthiest individuals and entities. Homelessness and poverty should be the focus of intense investment-- building programs, reallocation of unused/ empty buildings, job programs. Also favour high investment and patronage of the arts, and free access where possible.

How I live?: Economic liberalism. I make my money off the market, after all.

Conscientiously syndicalist/anarcho-syndicalist. Workers should get shares in the firms they work for, to have a far more effective means to shape their industry and thrive when the firm is doing well. Not simply be exploited without some benefit of being so.

There is no neat little box to shelve me. I agree with the right and the left on various issues, I vote according to whom I believe will ensure the country is prosperous in the FUTURE rather than the immediate present.

I consider the effects of legislation 10 years from now. At the moment it means a massive social security net is required with how much automation is effectively destroying jobs for the lower classes. Workplace safety and worker rights are tantamount to a stable economy. Because the workers ARE the consumers, this is a lesson the United States is teaching us very quickly and how its rampant capitalism is a bubble that's going to burst very, very violently.

That said my stance doesn't apply to every country as context is king. For example less developed nations need to focus on the removal of corruption so real progress can be made, that is not a left wing or right wing ideology, but it is PRIORITY to prosperity.

Progressive on economics and social issues, Centre/undecided on global trade.

Economics:If you're making shittons of money, you can afford to pay more in taxes to keep the country benefiting everyone. Similarly, good wages for the middle and lower class prompt us/them to spend more money, thus keeping the economy rolling. A thousand people having enough extra money to buy a burger at their local joint every week contributes more than one millionaire having enough more money to put in the bank because he already has millions of dollars of fine art and yachts.

I also believe that most corporations, being beholden to their shareholders and having a responsibility to make as much profit as possible at all times, will not do these things willingly. Ergo, the government may/will need to legislate these things.

I understand the value of capitalism (I don't want the government to have a monopoly on sofas and videogames after all), but capitalism needs strict, brutal guardrails and a robust safety net or it WILL consume the people who work under it.

Social issues:I'm a simple man.

As long as everyone involved consents to something, and as long as no permanent damage is being done, I don't give a FUCK what you do and think the government should not get involved. If you're gay, trans, or into weird kinky stuff, whatever, knock yourself out. I'll respect you as long as you continue to respect me.

I think Secularism should be enforced in government, and that you can do what you like in your personal life so long as it's not breaking any laws. I don't like organized religion and find it dangerous, but as long as you're not breaking any laws or using your religion to set laws/interfere with in your government job, you can believe whatever the hell you want. It's your personal life.

Vehemently anti-war and anti death penalty. Fortunately, I live in Canada, where the death penalty's been axed, and aside from a few blips in the harper era and (*grumble*) continued economic and supply support to Saudi freakin Arabia, we've generally been pretty good on this front.

I'm also Pro-choice, so long as the fetus is pre-viability (or if the life of the mother is in danger at any point). I think abortions are a tragedy and should be avoided whenever possible, but if some poor girl gets raped, or it turns out the fetus will have some fatal defect, who am I to tell the person "No, screw you, you have to keep it"?

On global trade....Hoooh....

On one hand, with how massive and specialized our economies are getting, global trade is kind of a necessity at least until we can do molecular recycling and construction.

On the flip side, global trade needs to be veeeeerrrry carefully handled, otherwise all the manufacturing goes straight to china where it's done for 10 cents a week by slave labor and the only way a company can compete is to buy into that mess, which not only costs jobs here at home, but it degrades the hell out of quality across the entire industry. My dad works in plastics, he hates when he has to deal with plants in china. They've consistently shown VERY little regard for quality, standards and accountability. :s

So I'm not opposed to it, but it needs to be negotiated with the needs of the common man in mind, and can't damage the country or its ability to govern (I'm looking at you, investor state protections bullshit. >:( )

According to the back of my membership card, "to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity."

According to the back of my membership card, "to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity."

I'm sure that explains everything.

If statements were meals, that would be the equivalent to eating unflavored rice crisps.

More recently, they want another EU referendum, which I think is an extremely stupid idea at this point, so, I don't support them on that either.

Overal though, a lot of the issues that pertain to them are about election reform (The current FPTP system isn't great.), improvements to schools, and some changes to the justice system (Stuff like less monitoring and restrictions on data and DNA collection.)

More recently, they want another EU referendum, which I think is an extremely stupid idea at this point, so, I don't support them on that either.

Wtf I hate the lib dems now.

Overal though, a lot of the issues that pertain to them are about election reform (The current FPTP system isn't great.), improvements to schools, and some changes to the justice system (Stuff like less monitoring and restrictions on data and DNA collection.)

Wtf I love the lib dems now. That is, depending on which electoral system they want.

According to the back of my membership card, "to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity."

I don't. I've got got my (currently rapidly solidifying) beliefs, and I figure someone else can do the paperwork if they want. Can say I'm typically left of the Democrats. Big fan of worker solidarity, organization, and unions. Huge fan of people being comfortable in their own identity. As long as everything stays safe, sane, and consensual, it's none of my or anyone else's business. If you make 90% of the money you should pay 90% of the taxes. Fetuses aren't people. Nationalizing (and then not neglecting) infrastructure is a great idea. Private enterprise is not, in fact, inherently better at allocating resources or eliminating inefficiency than the public sector, they can just hide it better. Punching Nazis is humane and better than they deserve. Nobody "earns" 100 times more than the poor bastard that has to deal with retail customers. Could probably be described as being part of the religious left, but only if you use an actual definition instead of the hyperbolic descriptor used by fragile YouTubers. Man-made climate change is a real thing that's probably too late to stop, but humanity hasn't gotten as far as it has by being a bunch of quitters so let's give it a shot anyway. "Real men" don't give a shit about how manly they look so take that alpha-male machismo bullshit and stuff it. Monopoly is a game with no redeeming features. You never stop a drug epidemic by jailing junkies, so please stop hurting people and wasting resources trying. Don't try to use the Roman grain dole as a bizarre argument against public assistance when it lasted for twice as long as than the entirety of the united States thus far. And it's a shame that a charity raising several million dollars a year created by gamers and funded by gamers doesn't even get a shoutout.